It Could Be The Greatest Car Chase Ever

BULLITT:
"There are bad cops and there are good cops - and then there's Bullitt."

What came first, the rogue cop genre or Bullitt?
This movie was the embryo of a whole genre of film. Shouldn't that be enough reason to see it?
Movies like Dirty Harry, Beverly Hills Cop and any other gritty cop film with a rogue agent roaming around seeking satisfaction came from Bullitt.
However, a lot of people have heard of this movie for one reason; the car chase. This chase scene is so good, it can still go toe-to-toe with today's best, and unlike car chases of today, excluding the one in the opening scene of The Transporter, the chase in Bullitt involves realistic competitive driving. Nothing gets utterly destroyed, the bad guys car's don't mysteriously implode for no apparent reason, and their driving real honest-to-goodness cars. There's no NOS, no supercharged engines worth more than my apartment. There Mustangs, pure and simple, and that's what makes them so great.
Steve McQueen plaPublish Postys Sgt. Frank Bullitt, in pursuit of the drug kingpin who murdered a witness in protective custody. That's it, no long spoiler.
Suffice it to say that it's a classic, and the writing, directing and acting are top notch.

Co-Starring Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset, Don Gordon and Robert Duvall. Directed by Peter Yates.
For more information check out my links list.

GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES

This is the kind of movie that everybody needs to watch in the developmental stages of childhood. The question is, do you know why it's so important?
Here's why; this movie has Class, with a capital letter C. It has wit, intelligence, and a good deal of cuckolding, transforming from a run of the mill musical to a well rounded feature film, all the while keeping it's dignity intact. That's Class.
While it does portray the two female leads in ways that would be unbecoming of a modern day feminist, you have to remember that this movie was made in 1953. Taken in proper context of the times, this movie was a cornerstone for women in cinema.
Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe star as two sultry lounge singers on board a yacht, trying to make their way to France, and keeping an eye out for eligible men. Based on the Broadway show, which in turn was based on the novel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a total joy of the 50's musical genre. Perfect weeknight escapism.

Co-starring Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan and George Winslow. Directed by Howard Hawks.
For more information check out my links list.

Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole... Where?

HOW TO STEAL A MILLION:

"A movie about those who appreciate the finest things in life... for free!"

Why would you steal a priceless statue from a heavily guarded museum in the middle of downtown Paris? And how?
For the answer to these questions, RENT THIS MOVIE. One of the finest examples of an all around good crime movie, spliced with dialogue that possesses both fine wit and enormous humor, How to Steal a Million is a rare find.
You might find yourself expecting theatrical antics and common humor from what I have described, but the true comedy of this film comes when you least expect it, in lines of dialogue so crafted that they sneak in the back door and have your belly aching.
The story of a young aristocratic woman (Hepburn) in her quest to save her father from going to jail by covering up his acts of artistic forgery, and the 'burgular' (O'Toole) who might just have a lucky enough plan to pull off the heist of the century, in between bouts of looking dumbstruck by Audrey Hepburn's character. Histerically funny, romantic, and dramatic, How to Steal a Million is without a doubt a fabulous movie.

Please rent this movie. You will be the richer for it.

For more information check out my links list.

A Movie That Will Never Fade

BAREFOOT IN THE PARK:

This movie is the essence of a 'feel good movie'. It has romance, it has humor, it even has a little action here and there, although nothing gets blown up or demolished, and most importantly; it will never get old.
What's more, this movie is honest. Honesty plays a big part in my movie selections for the simple reason that if a movie cannot be honest about aspects of life that are indeed fit for the screen, then a movie has no reason to be honest with anything else. Without honesty, all genres would eventually require leaps of faith to watch. There would be no grounding anymore.
Moving back to the film, this movie is the chronicle of two young people, played by Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, newlywed and beginning a new portion of their lives. What follows is not so straight forward. Life isn't what they expected; it has surprises that neither of the them could have predicted; like having to sleep in a twin size bed together. Coupled with a varied and hilarious community of supporting actors and actresses, this movie presents a close perception of what love could truly mean between two people, and that in itself brings hope to its viewers.

For more information go to www.imdb.com

A Natural Classic

THE NATURAL:

"He lived for a dream that wouldn't die."

I frequently find myself looking for a solid sports movie, but apart from interesting ones like Any Given Sunday, I find myself running into dead ends. I mean, do I really want to rent Blood Sport? To be honest, I do enjoy movies like The Gridiron Gang, and Rudy, but options for satisfying sports movies are few and fare between. I rented this movie on a recommendation from someone who's movie taste i trust. I didn't know anything about it, and in the end I think that was the best way to see it; unaware.
This movie was nominated for 4 Oscars, and for good reason. It's an accessible vision of second chance, and what it takes to take the same chance a second time in a lifetime.
Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, an up-and-coming baseball pitcher who encounters dramatic barriers in his path to the majors. The movie really revolves around his return to the game that he loves, through many years and countless struggles. Armed with his baseball bat hand carved from a tree that was struck by lighting in his childhood, and an incredible supporting cast, Hobbs is the inspiration and determination of a generation whose dreams never went away made flesh.

Starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Robert Duvall and Joe Don Baker. Directed by Barry Levinson.
For more information go to www.imdb.com

Weeknight Classic Movies: Part 1

BILLY WILDER MOVIES:

There is a major trend, or lack thereof, that I have come across. A descent percentage of the movie watching population knows or has seen at least ONE Mel Brook’s film, probably Robin Hood; Men in Tights for the younger crowd or maybe Young Frankenstein for anybody else, but when I say the name Billy Wilder to someone, a look of utter incomprehension crosses their faces. Why is this?
Movies like Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, and Irma La Douce are classics, although most movies with Jack Lemmon in them are. Why have so few people heard of them? Maybe I’m not asking the right people, but I seriously urge anyone interested in well made movies that are solid and secure in their value to go out and rent one or all of these. Their perfect for a weeknight, or a rainy Sunday afternoon.